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Sublingual and Buccal Delivery: A Historical and Scientific Prescriptive
Sina Bahraminejad1, Hassan Almoazen1
1Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, 881 Madison Ave, Rm 661, Memphis, TN 38018, USA.
Pharmaceutics
|August 28, 2025
Summary
Sublingual and buccal drug delivery has evolved significantly over 75 years, with four distinct growth periods. Research now focuses on advanced mucosal delivery for enhanced therapeutic benefits.
Area of Science:
- Pharmacology and Pharmaceutics
- Drug Delivery Systems
- Mucosal Drug Delivery
Background:
- Sublingual and buccal drug delivery routes have been explored for over 75 years.
- Early research (1950-1982) showed limited exploration of these mucosal routes.
- Significant advancements have occurred, particularly since the 1980s.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the historical development of sublingual and buccal drug delivery over the past 75 years.
- To identify key phases and innovations in this field.
- To highlight the growing research focus on mucosal drug delivery.
Main Methods:
- Literature review based on the query "sublingual and buccal".
- Analysis of publication trends from 1950 to 2025.
- Categorization of research into distinct growth periods.
Main Results:
- Identified four distinct growth periods in sublingual and buccal delivery research: Early (1950-1982), Exploratory (1983-1993), Diversification (1994-2009), and Innovation (2010-2025).
- Documented the expansion of therapeutic agents and formulation technologies, including nanoparticles, mucoadhesive systems, and pediatric formulations.
- Noted the increasing use for various conditions, from angina and hypertension to pain management, opioid use disorder, and vaccine delivery.
Conclusions:
- Sublingual and buccal drug delivery represents a dynamic and expanding area of pharmaceutical research.
- Historical analysis reveals a continuous innovation trajectory, driven by the need for improved drug efficacy and patient compliance.
- Future research is poised to further enhance mucosal drug delivery for both local and systemic therapeutic outcomes.
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